Malicious Code Injection in bernadine-validator-catalyst: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-99943: Malicious code in bernadine-validator-catalyst (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The bernadine-validator-catalyst package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for validating transactions in decentralized applications. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs malicious scripts to alter package.json files. These scripts remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall bernadine-validator-catalystIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the bernadine-validator-catalyst package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall bernadine-validator-catalyst'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The bernadine-validator-catalyst package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that poses significant risks to developers using npm. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your applications from potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for bernadine-validator-catalyst →
FAQ
It is an npm package used for validating transactions in decentralized applications, but it has been compromised by malicious actors.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Check your application against the vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Using the compromised package can lead to security vulnerabilities in your application, including unauthorized access and data breaches.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
Immediately uninstall the package and check your application for any signs of compromise. Update to a secure version if available.
